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Málaga’s labour market is growing at record speed, but a new CCOO report (Comisiones Obreras - one of Spain’s largest trade union confederations) warns that the province’s job boom is hiding serious inequalities. Women, young people and many inland areas are still being left behind, even as employment reaches historic highs.

 

The union says average employment in 2025 climbed to more than 795,000 people, which is 23,000 more than the previous year. But the actual number of jobs stood at 738,000, a gap of more than 57,000 that CCOO links to temporary contracts and job-sharing across the year. As general secretary Fernando Cubillo put it, “Each permanent position has been filled by two people.”

 

That strong growth has not translated into a major fall in unemployment. The rate has edged down by just 0.6%, and now stands at 13%. Over five years, unemployment has fallen by 26.5%, while Málaga has led Spain in job growth with a 26.2% rise and 167,200 new positions. Even so, the report says the model remains uneven.

 

The clearest divide is between men and women. Female unemployment stands at 15.7%, compared with 10.5% for men. Women’s employment rate is 43.5%, well below the 52% rate for men, and their part-time rate is three times higher, at 21% against 7%. The report also notes 4,300 more temporary jobs for women over the last year.

 

CCOO says female employment did rise by 7.7%, but that was not enough to absorb the increase in the female workforce, which grew by 7.2%. The union also warns that job insecurity remains much higher for women, with a rate of 13.4% compared with 7.1% for men.

 

The imbalance is geographic too. Employment is concentrated mainly in Málaga city and the Costa del Sol, which together account for 82% of salaried employment. Inland areas such as Antequera, Guadalteba and Nororma remain far weaker, and Nororma actually saw a 1.6% fall in employment.

 

The service sector is doing most of the heavy lifting, adding more than 46,000 jobs, especially in commerce and transport. Construction lost 8,300 jobs, while industry saw only moderate growth. CCOO is now calling for a comprehensive employment plan, a 37.5-hour working week and stronger public employment services, arguing that “economic growth cannot be sustained on precariousness or inequality.”

 

 

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